United Way cuts budget to save programs

2011 contributions fell by almost 14%

The United Way of Monroe County is trying to cut up to 40 percent of its expenses after charitable contributions fell last year. The agency, which supports programs for community members in need, saw contributions fall between 13 and 14 percent in 2011. That forced the organization to look into expenses that they could cut.

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By HOWARD FRANK

poconorecord.com

By HOWARD FRANK

Posted Nov. 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By HOWARD FRANK
Posted Nov. 14, 2012 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

The United Way of Monroe County is trying to cut up to 40 percent of its expenses after charitable contributions fell last year.

The agency, which supports programs for community members in need, saw contributions fall between 13 and 14 percent in 2011. That forced the organization to look into expenses that they could cut.

"We recognize it is very difficult to raise dollars in this economy and in our county where the needs are greater, so we are doing anything we can to make more of those dollars available by cutting costs and raising more dollars to help more people," Executive Director Mathilda Sheptak said.

The organization has cut two-and-a-half positions through layoffs and attrition, including a part-time receptionist, the community outreach director and a social media and volunteer development manager. Its finance director will go from full time to part time beginning Jan. 1, 2013, when the United Way will be left with a total of three employees.

"We are looking at what those duties are, how each of us can take them on and what volunteers can do to take them on," she said. "We are wearing more hats and asking our volunteers to step up as much as they can where we need the help."

The organization is hoping volunteers will step forward to take up some of the duties that were done by employees no longer there.

Those include answering phones and stuffing envelopes. "We are trying to reach out. We have volunteers who help out on our campaigns, are trying to reach out for those to help us with some of our work."

There's been a decline in giving on a national level since the recession began, according to Sheptak.

"There are fewer people to give. People unemployed and underemployed don't have the resources to give. Some people who became unemployed were never unemployed before. They went from givers to someone who needed our resources. And we may have givers who give less because they don't have the income."

The United Way of Monroe County is trying to reduce spending in everything from payroll to utilities and even supplies, and is looking for donations of any types of goods that help in its normal course of business.

The results of this year's fundraising campaign won't be known for a few weeks, since employee contribution programs and some large donors haven't yet been reported.

"With the trending we felt we needed to do the cutbacks now so the allocations would be available for programs to help people," Sheptak said. "There was a program reduction when we allocated last year from the 2011 campaign. We want to still deliver what we do and not cut anything we do for the community."